The Alberta government looks out for their own interest, period.

The draft Co‑operation Agreement Between Alberta and Canada is just another way for Alberta to try and undermine Indigenous Led-Assessments, Knowledge and Rights that would safe-guard the health and longterm cumulative effects of these projects on waters, land, fish habitats, migration species and environmental challenges to come.

A few examples of this agreement that stood out to me:

1: “AND WHEREAS Alberta has exclusive legislative jurisdiction over the development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural resources in the province…”

This is FALSE and does not uphold the reality of Indigenous Rights and Treaty, legally in place with the Crown before Alberta was even a province. The point is they don’t recognize and respect this reality. So how would giving them more control make any sense??

2: 7. Indigenous Peoples
(3) For certainty, nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit the ability of either of the Parties to co- operate, or enter into agreements or arrangements, with Indigenous Peoples respecting assessments or incorporate Indigenous-led assessments.

The way this was written creates no enforceable authority, structure or funding for Indigenous-led assessments. Sounds like lip-service, and doesn’t respect the integral support Indigenous Knowledge of this land offers.


3: 10. Application of this Agreement
(2) The Parties acknowledge that Alberta is challenging the constitutionality of the IAA, which is a matter before the courts. By entering into this Agreement, Alberta does not acknowledge the IAA is constitutional.

How can Alberta and Canada step into an agreement when Alberta is actively fighting the constitutionality of the federal statue governing the agreement? This shows me that respect and acknowledgement of already placed agreements is not important to Alberta and only creates instability for the environment and Indigenous Nations. Which shows me proof that FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IS NECESSARY AND SHOULDN’T BE REDUCED.

Alberta’s current government does not respect Treaty, as we are seeing with the space they are giving the separatist conversation and referendum.

Let’s remember that Treaties are foundational, legally binding, and ongoing agreements between Indigenous nations and the Crown (the legal entity representing the federal, provincial, and territorial governments). The federal government of Canada is constitutionally obligated to uphold treaties signed with Indigenous peoples and the Crown. Alberta shouldn’t be able to reduce this process in any way.

The fact that the current Alberta government has used the notwithstanding clause to reduce resistance and public collaboration to pass bills that benefit them alone, as well as remove protective policies like the 1976 Coal Policy without public conversation; consistently shows us that they don’t care about a “co-operative” process for anything. Why would this agreement be any different?

I see nothing in the way this draft has been written that places Indigenous Knowledge, Rights and Treaties in a position to directly benefit and safe-guard the environment and reduce harmful impact and cumulative effects.